Monday, August 21, 2017

Straight Chatting from the Library: K.T. Castle

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. K.T. Castle will award paperback copies of The Bridesmaid's Checklist Series and a $10 Amazon GC (US/Mexico only) to one randomly selected commenter and digital copies of The Bridesmaid's Checklist Series and a $10 Amazon GC (international) to a second randomly selected commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE INTERVIEW

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Writing a book always has challenges, and they vary from one story to the other. I have to say, that Laura’s Wedding was a great writing experience. The words just flew.

Probably the hardest part of writing this book was finding the time to do it. Having a full time job certainly is an “obstacle” when writing. Then there was letting go of certain scenes, this was the first book that required me to forget about some of them… it sure is hard!

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed the girls immensely. The dynamic between Kassie, Laura and the rest of the girls was very entertaining for me. I loved to sit and write about them!

Then, since this was my first published book, I also loved the sense of accomplishment I felt when it was done and ready. How proud I felt of myself.

What inspires you?

Life!

When I go out I like to observe the places and people around me, and oftenly I notice something that triggers an idea. It happens also at home, even when watching TV or reading a book.

I constantly think, “what if x and y change?” or “what would z character do in this situation?”

Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work?

Let me tell you the list is loooong! And in a way diverse. Starting from Cassandra Clare and Stephenie Meyer, to something more mature like J.R. Ward and Lynsay Sands.

I love Jay Crownover!!! I’m proud to be part of her crowd.

The great thing about reading is that I keep meeting new authors that rock, such as Santino Hassell, L.J. Shen, Meghan March and Kylie Scott. They all certainly inspire me. It is through their beautiful words that I feel empowered and determined to keep writing.

What do your plans for future projects include?

Definitely I’ll finish The Bridesmaid’s Checklist series. All the girls will have their book. Laura and Marisol’s are published, Natalie will have her book published in early 2018. I’ll start drafting Denise’s Wedding and my main character, Kassandra, needs to have her wedding too. The Final Wedding.

I also have a paranormal romance project, and some more contemporary romance. There’s vampires, love by the sea, second chance and possibly some YA books I’ll write in the future.

Do you ever get writer’s Block? Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

Natalie’s wedding was difficult to write. I don’t know if it was life, stress, writer's block… whatever it was I had it bad. I was supposed to finish the book in February and I did it in July. Waaay behind schedule!

I honestly did what I heard all writers say, “Sit down and do it!”

You have the idea, you have the plan, stop making excuses, you can do it!

Sit and write :)

Have you ever had one character you wanted to go one way with but after the book was done the character was totally different?

It happens all the time, more often that I would like. But it’s all for good.

Samantha, one of the secondary characters in my paranormal romance (still unpublished), started stealing a lot of attention from the main characters. She became so fun to write that I had to give her more importance on the plot.

Laura is also a big surprise. I love writing about her. I know her name is in the title, and yeah, it is her wedding so of course she is important. She goes all kinds of Bridezilla on Kassie and most readers think is a souless bitch, but she has her reasons and in her heart she means well. You’ll have to read the rest of the books in the series to let her grow a little on you. Trust me.

READ THE BLURB

Kassandra is a single, independent woman who prides herself on her own success. But when she’s asked by her best friend Laura to be the Maid of Honor in her wedding, Kassandra finds herself questioning her lifestyle. Helping Laura plan the wedding is no problem—she’s done it before for all their other friends. The first time was a blast, the second super fun, but doing it without receiving any help from the rest of the girls gets old really fast.

The whole event kicks off with the worst kind of surprise when Kassandra discovers who her friend's fiancé really is, and she's torn between supporting Laura's future happiness and hiding the deeply buried, intimate past she shares with the groom-to-be. Struggling to be the bigger person and do all the hard work on her own, Kassandra finds surprising comfort in Josh, the best man in the wedding and someone she's been avoiding for years. He's charming, thoughtful, handsome, and the worst kind of womanizer, but she just can't seem to stay away. All the while, Kassandra can't help wondering if the wedding could be any more cliché—until she finds unexpected ways to change things up a bit.

READ AN EXCERPT

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. I’d heard that saying more than once now. And I was about to hear it once again.

Who the hell is this? I had picked up the phone without even looking at the caller ID. Oh, Laura. Great.

“Kassandra, are you listening? I’m engaged!” Laura screamed from the other side of the phone.

“Yeah, wow,” I said. “Congratulations.”

“I can’t believe you, Kassie. You should be more excited. You’ll get to be my bridesmaid!” The volume of her voice kept rising.

“I’m happy for you, Laura.” I really didn’t know at the moment how I felt. I was trying to look around to see exactly where I was. “Believe me. It’s just…it’s three o’clock, and I was sleeping.”

After looking at my surroundings, I remembered I was in my own house. I had a minor headache, probably from all the drinking the night before, and my body ached a bit. I looked beside me and found the reason for my hurt.

Next to me I found the silhouette of a beautiful man. The memories of the few hours before my abrupt awakening came back at me:

A bar. A blond. My home. Some sex...in that order.

“I know it’s late, but I had to give you the good news.”

“And news it is.” She was the last of my best friends who was single; not so long ago we roamed all the bars in town together, looking for men to hook up with, and suddenly she was engaged.

MEET THE AUTHOR

K.T. Castle is an author/artist on a quest to find the words, forms, and colors to materialize the worlds and people of her imagination. She never saw herself as an incurable romantic, but lately, that's what she finds herself musing about. Love is found everywhere, regardless if it comes from a nice person, an ass — mundane or even vampire. When she's not busy with work, in front of a computer placing many thoughts in order, she makes her best to be creative or relax with a good book and a snack. Some of her favorite characters are Sookie, Rule and Shaw, Bella, Edward, Clary, Jace, Wrath, Hollywood, Blaire, Woods, Ethan, the Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel.

Good morning, everyone!!What a wonderful way to start the tour. Thank you, Straight from the Library. I enjoyed the interview very much. I'm tasty to answer some more questions, guys, so don't be shy. I have to go to work but I'll make sure to come by as often as possible.

Hello, JosephThanks for asking me about the books I like :)Of recent I love Recovered by Jay Crownover, Sutphin Boulevard by Santino Hassell, and Trust by Kylie Scott.What about you?Best of luck with the giveaway!